Page 9 - OhioAlaCarteSummer2011

www.ohiorestaurant.org 7 Summer Issue

The Ohio Restaurant Association is proud to announce a new value-added beneft for members of the association. Via our new strategic partnership with Summit Energy, members will gain access to a team that is committed to helping foodservice professionals navigate and understand the complex electricity market.

Summit Energy serves their customers – participating ORA members – as an unbiased consultant to help them navigate contracts; to understand contract term and conditions; to analyze the energy markets and to evaluate the best options available for them when making a recommendation for an electric provider based on the each customer’s individual needs and preferences.

“We’re pleased to offer members this important, value-added beneft especially at a time when energy costs are top of mind for operators,” said Geoff Hetrick, ORA President & CEO. “ORA members are the winners when we add a strategic partner, such as Summit Energy, through our detailed and deliberate vetting process.”

While researching possible partners, ORA analyzed the various benefts electric brokers and service providers offer, and determined that Summit Energy was the best ft for our members. Due to long-standing relationships with operations in the foodservice industry, the company understands the challenges that restaurant operators face and is committed to helping restaurateurs fnd the best contract for their operation’s individual needs.

“Summit Energy helps OSI Restaurant Partner’s operations save thousands of dollars in energy costs every year,” said Mike Sopko,

ORA Board Member and Joint Venture Partner with Carrabba’s Italian Grill, a division of OSI Restaurant Partners. “Not only are they experts in the electricity market, but they are easy to work with, and I trust their objective recommendations to help us save money whenever and wherever we can. Summit Energy is truly an extension of our team because they are committed to negotiating the best, most affordable electricity contract out there.”

In fact, Summit Energy is so committed to serving members’ needs that the company is offering every member a free energy assessment to ensure members fnd the electric provider that most closely matches their needs. After determining what contract is the best ft, Summit Energy will present operators with the clear, concise options so the restaurateurs can make an educated decision when choosing their electric provider. By seeking out competitive bids, Summit Energy can typically offer members savings of 5% to 20%.

“Summit Energy is proud to be ORA’s strategic partner for electricity,” said Jim Vonderhaar, Vice President and General Manager of Summit Energy. “The ORA conducted a very deliberate and very thorough vetting process to fnd the best partner. We feel that process really helped validate Summit’s unique capabilities and we’re excited for the opportunity to prove our value. Summit is ready to get to work on serving the needs of restaurateurs in Ohio at a time when lowering energy costs is a real priority.”

Look for more information and upcoming education sessions about Summit Energy on the ORA’s website – www.ohiorestaurant.org.

ORA, Summit Energy Sign Strategic Partnership Agreement

The association recently entered into an agreement that will provide members access to more favorable energy contracts, lower costs